Match Report

Bridgend 11 - Neath 29

Brewery Field, Sat 31st Jan 09 KO: 17:30

SCRUM-half Kevin Farrell stole the show as Neath took revenge on Bridgend for an early-season upset.
Kiwi Farrell, who made a try-scoring debut for the Blacks during a televised match against Newport back in October, is making a habit of scoring tries in front of the cameras.
It was Farrell who rewarded his forwards for gaining a monopoly of possession.
And in the end it was surprising that the Blacks had to wait until the 76th minute to bank the bonus point.
A 49th Welsh Premiership try from wing Kevin James secured the fifth point to leave Neath still in contention for a fifth successive title.

Basically, the champions cannot afford to lose another match, and it remains to be seen whether continually living on the edge is to their liking.
"Good performance, pleasing result," was the immediate reaction from Neath director of rugby Rowland Phillips.
"To come away from Bridgend at anytime with a bonus-point victory is always considered an achievement.
"But it was all the more gratifying on this occasion, as the home defeat against Bridgend in early season left a sour taste.''
Bridgend, who ended a 26-year wait for a win at The Gnoll back in October, were never in contention to wrap up a double.
But the door was left ajar after Wales Under-20 squad member Jamie Murphy touched down in the 45th minute.
That cut Neath's lead to 14-11, but they never again threatened the Neath try-line.
Neath went into the game minus back-row men Lee Beach and James Merriman, who were called up by Wales Sevens, and it led to Haydn Pugh packing down at No. 8.
Once again a standout showing from lock Neil Edwards alongside the graft of front-row men Nicky Downs, Gerwyn Price and Craig Mitchell lay victory foundations.

However, there was only one genuine candidate for man-of-the-match - New Zealander Farrell.
The Counties Manakau player opened the scoring in the 12th minute after livewire hooker Price burst away from a ruck on the home 22.
Farrell appeared on the outside to race over for a try that fly-half Arwel Thomas improved on with a superb kick.
Bridgend fly-half Gareth Bowen then reduced arrears after 15 minutes with a straightforward penalty.
However, that was to be the former Neath player's final contribution, as he came off soon after with a medial ligament injury.
It remained 7-3 until the 37th minute when Neath at last turned pressure into points.
A quickly-taken tap-penalty from acting captain Gareth Gravell caught the Ravens napping, resulting in Farrell once more appearing on the scene to touchdown.

Fly-half Thomas knocked over the conversion, but right on half-time a Murphy penalty narrowed the interval deficit to 14-6.
And Neath were caught on the hop in the 45th minute by another defence-splitting break from prop Ryan Bevington. He offloaded to centre Murphy, who duly touched down.
However, Murphy struck an upright with a simple conversion attempt.

Neath should have then gone clear on numerous occasions before Farrell completed his try hat-trick on the hour.
Line-out ball from Pugh was taken on by prop Downs, and Farrell shot through a gap to collect a sixth league try for the club.
Fly-half Thomas again converted, and all that was now at stake was the bonus-point quest.
Bridgend No. 8 Rory Pitman was binned in the 68th minute for killing the ball, and fly-half Thomas landed the ensuing penalty. But Neath left it late in gaining the extra point.

Hooker Price was held over the goal line, but the Blacks won a 76th-minute scrum five with captain Gravell picking up.
He shipped the ball out to scrum-half Farrell, who turned provider in sending wing James over for a fourth league try of the season.